Waitt Institute legal team visits Montserrat, Barbuda

BRADES –A new framework for sustainable ocean management is in the works in the Caribbean, thanks to a collaboration between the governments of Barbuda, Montserrat, and the Waitt Institute. The Waitt Institute’s legal staff from the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) traveled to the islands last week to craft the next steps of the groundbreaking Blue Halo Initiative.

“I think we should train the community, especially the fishermen, “ explained Roy Morris, of the Barbuda Fisheries staff. “Fishermen feel that we are targeting them, but it is for their benefit that the rules have been passed.”

On Montserrat, the lawyers met with government officials and community members on both islands to discuss the legal framework for ocean management, and lead a legal workshop on Barbuda.

“It was clear from the legal training with enforcement officials that they are committed to working with the fishing community and others to make implementation a success.” Porter added, “We are impressed by the engagement of all those who attended.”

Together, the group crafted its vision for a policy framework that will support Blue Halo Montserrat. In turn, that blueprint will be part of a report released later this year that the government will be able to use to craft a sustainable ocean management plan for the island.

“It is critical to the success of the Blue Halo Initiative not just to put laws on the books, but to implement them and achieve compliance, “ said Mengerink. “It was clear from the legal training with enforcement officials that they are committed to working with the fishing community and others to make implementation a success.”

“Enforcement authorities asked for additional training on the specifics of the new fishing and coastal zoning regulations, and we were happy to meet this request in short order,” said Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, executive director of the Waitt Institute. “A deep understanding the laws is, of course, critical to fair and effective enforcement thereby to reaping the benefits of healthier fisheries and coral reefs.”
Staff from Barbuda Fisheries, the Codrington National Lagoon Park, and the Barbuda Police requested the training following last month’s enforcement training workshop on Barbuda; it was sponsored by the Waitt Institute.